Airplanes

It's not unusual for this thought to go through my mind when I get settled into my seat on the airplane, "What should I start with... my book? thank you notes? some music? Should I introduce myself to the person next to me? try to share the Gospel?" I've met some pretty neat people on airplane rides... but I've also begun conversations that went on and on and on... and on, and all I really wanted to do was take a little nap. This weekend I faced these questions, but I decided to sit down, listen to some music and read my books. I had noticed that the man across the aisle had his Bible to read, I thought my reading material (the same book) might begin a conversation with him. Instead, as I read with the music in my ears drowning out all other unwanted noises, out of the corner of my eye I caught the words 2 Corinthians in the book my seat mate was reading. I felt a prompting to just ask her what she was reading, so I stopped my music and inquired.

We ended up having a great conversation--talking nearly for the entire ride. She shared with me from her life, I shared deeply about what I was experiencing as I embark on this journey to Kenya. The woman was a huge encouragement. She showed me what God had been teaching her through Psalm 91. It says: 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

They say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, "The LORD is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, 

no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because they love me," says the LORD, "I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name.

They will call on me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will deliver them and honor them.

With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation."

How perfectly this applies to me right now! On some level I am fearful of the violence, the lion, the cobra, but the Lord promises that He will be near. The Lord is my refuge. He will rescue. He will protect. He will deliver. I will call on His Name.

77% and Conflict

So, there isn't conflict with me being 77% funded, don't worry. But I'm slowly increasing! Thanks for all of you who support me, I'm humbled by your generosity. I've gotten several new supporters just this week!

The conflict part: The past few days of SPLICE we've talked about the inevitability of conflict. The number one reason that missionaries leave the field is because of team conflict. That fact wasn't a surprise to me, I've heard it before, but what I haven't really thought so deeply about is my conflict style. For those of you who have been through MTI before, I'm pretty sure I'm a "shark" and maybe lean more towards a "fox" under stress. I have to call close friends/coworkers this weekend to ask how they have seen me react to conflict. This should be interesting...

SPLICE and snow...

So, our new program has begun. SPLICE (Spiritual, Personal, Lifestyles, Interpersonal, Cultural and Endurance/Enjoyment) is a program that addresses all these issues to help prepare me for Kenya. Today we talked about culture shock... it is inevitable! We watched this video of international students from Boston college tell about all the feelings and reactions they had when they left their home countries to come study in America... it was fun (and scary!!) to hear their reactions to adjusting to a new culture--all feelings that will probably soon be mine. My favorite was the student from Zaire who was explaining how Americans were straight-forward and sometimes blunt. He said, "In my country it is rude to say 'no', so if you invited me over to your house, I wouldn't tell you no, I would let you know I wasn't coming by not showing up!"  AHH! That is so foreign to me, but not wrong, just different. It will take time for me to understand Kenyan culture, but with the Lord's help it is possible!

75%!!!!

Support raising is one of those things that is so hard and yet so meaningful. I just got an email from current supporters who are increasing their monthly support, which puts me above 75%! On Saturday I had to choose between site-seeing with the other MTI'ers or staying in and doing my taxes and making support calls... the latter won out, and I'm actually thankful it did. I talked with 3 people on Saturday who were so encouraging and have committed to give! (and I finished my taxes!) As people give and connect their hearts to me and what I'll be doing in Kenya, I know they are praying, too. I can't tell you how humbling it is to know that people are willing to sacrifice and invest in something that God is using me to do. What a blessing to know that though I am going alone, so many stand behind me to pray for and send me.

Just tonight as I cried with my mom on the phone, we talked about how difficult it is for both of us for me to leave. Seeing God's faithfulness in providing all I need gives me the affirmation and assurance I need to continue to step forward in faith, even when it's hard to say goodbye's. God is good to use people--family, friends and supporters--to remind me that He is in this and He'll be with me wherever I go.

Road Trip!

I forgot to mention that I've moved! At the end of March my friends helped me pack my little mini-van with all the belongings that I can't take with me but still want to keep while I'm in Kenya. My friend Mary and I drove from Florida to Atlanta to St. Louis and finally to Quincy! If I had to choose anyone to road trip with, Mary would definitely be at the top of the list.

Leaving Florida was hard. It was hard to say goodbye to what has been my life for the past 3 years--the amazing people, a job that I loved, sunny weather, the palm trees, and all that has become home to me. I was so blessed during my time there, I know God has used it to prepare me for the road ahead.

Hi from beautiful Colorado! I've successfully completed my first full week of MTI's PILAT program (Program In Language Acquisition Techniques). It's surreal to be here myself because going through this training makes it a little more real that I'm actually moving overseas.